What’s it all about?

Ocean Swim, Stand-Up Paddle or Run – you choose!

The Harcourts Cooper & Co Beach Series is a weekly event held each Tuesday evening during summer on Takapuna Beach. Participants can choose how many times to participate within a season – it could be 1 event you attend, 16 events, or any number in between.
If you’re new to the event, watch our promo video for a quick introduction:

Three great event disciplines to choose from

Beach / Coastal Run

Ocean Swim

Stand-Up Paddle

Choosing the best Entry Pass for you

You choose how many times to participate within a season – the more events you enter at a time, the cheaper the price per event and if you purchase a 6, 12 or 16 event series pass you’ll receive some free goodies too!

On top of the series pass discounts, we offer additional discounts to corporate teams, families, local club members and participants wanting to take part in both the Orewa and Takapuna Beach series.

You can mix and match the event category you take part in. For example, if you register a series pass for the 1500m event, this becomes your default category. However, if you decide one evening to give the 4km stand-up paddle a go, no problem, just let the team in registration know you are changing for that night. Unless you tell us, your results will be entered against your default category, so it is important to let us know before you race.

Our NZ Surf Lifesaving guards require that all ocean swim participants race in their correctly coloured swim cap. If you change event distance you will need to purchase a new swim cap before racing; these can be purchased from registration for $10. If a beach runner, coastal runner or SUP’er changes to an ocean swim event they will also need to purchase a swim cap.

Singlets are not mandatory, however, if you change to a run or SUP event and would like one, you can purchase these from registration for $15.00.

For full details on the entry options, prices and series pass discounts click HERE

Series Competition

Medal Requirements

To be eligible for end of season medals you must have participated in a minimum of 8 of the possible 16 events in the same event option / distance. If you participate in more than 8 events in one event option / distance, your best 8 results will be included in your final points tally.

If participants complete 8 events in two separate event options / distances then they will be eligible for overall and age category medals in BOTH events!

The Beach Series is conducted in such a way so as to give an equal placing to transgender participants with the individuals in the event category. Please click HERE to read our guidelines.

To see the full list of overall and age group medal categories, click HERE

Primary School’s Competition

Each time the little ones participate, not only will they be swimming and running with their friends and parents, they’ll also be accruing points that go towards the end of season Primary Schools’ Trophies!

How to Enter

Enter online

Entering online offers big savings across all Event Passes and will save you time on event night. Online registrations close at 2pm sharp each event day.

NEW Participants: If you are purchasing your first event of the 2018/19 season you need to register or ‘sign up’ to ensure you are placed in the correct race and age results category.

RETURNING Participants: If you have already completed 1 or more events in the 2018/19 season you can ‘top up’ online to purchase additional event passes. As you are already registered, you just need to log back in (rather than re-register) to purchase your additional passes.

Enter offline (Franc’s Bar)

On the event day you can register inside Franc’s Bar (opposite the Takapuna Beach Reserve) from 5.00pm up until 15 minutes before your event starts. Please allow plenty of time when entering on the night, registration can get busy at times.

NEW Participants: If it is your first event of the season, you will need to fill out 1 registration form for each participant who is competing. Head to the ‘new entrants’ line.

RETURNING Participants: You only need to fill out the new entrants form once per season. If you have competed in the 2018/19 season already and want to purchase additional entry passes on event day, you can head to the ‘pre-registered’ or ‘top-up’ lines to do so.

Timing Transponders

Every Harcourts Cooper & Co Beach Series participant must wear a timing transponder on their ankle at every event – no timer, no race!

Temporary timing transponders

All ‘single pass’ participants will be provided a temporary timing transponder. This will need to be collected from registration inside Franc’s Bar before each event. Please allow plenty of time to pick up your timer, registration can get busy at times. This timer will record your completion time and must be returned to the timing transponder bins (at the finish chute) after each event.

Permanent timing transponders

When purchasing a 6, 12 or 16 Event Pass, you will be provided a permanent timing transponder for the duration of your season, saving you valuable time by not having to queue up for a temporary timing transponder before each event. At the end of the season (or the final event you choose to take part in) you will have to return it back to event officials, leaving it in the timing transponder bucket within the finish chute.

Loss/failure to return a timing transponder will incur a $30 fee so please ensure you return the timer after your final event.

Safety

Your safety is always top of mind for us. All Ocean Swim and Stand-up Paddle participants are guarded by professional lifeguards and our Coastal Runner’s have a ‘tail ender’ who stays at the back of the pack and ensures everyone safety across the rocks.

Before the event each week there is a compulsory Safety Briefing which all participants must attend. Please click HERE for more detailed information on our safety and rules.

Event Start & Finish

Start Marshals and Start Positions

All event disciplines will have a start marshal. They will determine whether the field is set and ready.

When the orange flag in front of a field is raised (and still), you will then be in the starter’s hands. To avoid a false start or being disqualified, leave your start line/area only when you hear the hooter sound and when you see the orange flag lowered in front of your start line by the start marshals.

Finish Line

The finish line is the blue or green mats you go over when running through the finish arch. Please don’t stop until you cross the mats.

Take note of your time on the timing clock in case of any timing issues and email us through the results page after the event if anything needs to be rectified.